Public art
Public art refers principally to government sponsored or funded artwork; created by (or with) professional artists; and legally sited in publicly accessible venues; not necessarily out of doors but typically other than inside an art gallery.
Ruth Fazakerly, thesis introduction (Negotiating Public Space: discourses of public art 2008
The production of artistic works or activities accessible to the
public in any media that have been planned and executed with the
specific intention of being sited or staged in the public domain.
The work may be permanent, temporary or ephemeral in nature
and includes the conceptual contribution of an artist to the design
of public spaces and facilities.
definition by Bayside City Council in their policy draft.
http://www.bayside.vic.gov.au/documents/Public_Art_Policy_final_v3.pdf
Public art refers to art forms that are placed within and/or on an environment or integrated
into building or infrastructure designs that are publicly visible, accessible and on public land.
This includes parklands, village centres, streetscapes, public open space, freeway environs,
significant gateways and entrances to the city and can include the internal and external
spaces of public buildings. The art forms can include both permanent and ephemeral
projects.
definition by Hobsons Bay city Council
http://www.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/files/49c39cb3-a26c-49f6-baad-a06800999db7/Public_Art_Policy_21_February_2012-1.pdf
alternative definitions
In Australia, Maggie McCormick describes a new kind of public art emerging in Melbourne in the 1990s – not „public art‟, but rather an „art of the public domain‟, defined in opposition to commissioned public art that merely „reproduces the commodification of the art market‟.141
cited by Ruth Fazakerly, (Thesis, Negotiating Public Space: discourses of public art 2008, pp34)
original - 1996, 'negotiating public space int he 1990's)
Its probably worth asking how could our ideas of permanent public artwork be stretched. What would happen if we decides to include materials that do not stand the test of time but might wear away over a number of years, but most likely survive the minumum five? Could we erect something that would be temporary if vandals took it apart, but which would be permanent if the community decided to leave it alone?
Can we think outside of hardwood, steel, ceramic, concrete, bronze?
Permanent/Timespan
Something that is lasting or is intended to last indefinitely. In
general permanent public arts works, depending on the material
used are expected to last for 15+ years.
definition by Bayside City Council in their policy draft.
http://www.bayside.vic.gov.au/documents/Public_Art_Policy_final_v3.pdf
This one from Hobsons Bay City Council suggests that there are no longer permanent comissions. Perhaps it is a bit more realistic. Also it provides an avenue for deaccessioning or removing the artwork should it prove offensive or difficult to maintain.
10.3 Life Span of Public Artworks
In order to effectively manage the existing public artworks in Hobsons Bay City Council’s
outdoor collection and any future public art commissions, three categories of expected life
span are identified.
10 year life span - Public art that is sculptural in form and or made of durable materials
that can withstand weather and time for a reasonable period and have minimal
maintenance.
5 year life span - Public art in the form of public sculptures, murals, pavement designs,
mosaic panels, that are made of non durable, non weathering materials that have a life
span that is reduced and where the integrity of the work is no longer achieved due to
this, and/or maintenance costs are deemed excessive, the expected life span is 5
years.
Ephemeral or less than two years life span - Public art in the form of sculptural
elements, outdoor projections, street art projects, murals, flag installations, billboards
are ephemeral projects that provide opportunities for participation from numerous
artists and or groups and are enhanced by the opportunity to change regularly, have an
expected life span of less than two years, and are assessed on a case to case basis.
http://www.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/files/49c39cb3-a26c-49f6-baad-a06800999db7/Public_Art_Policy_21_February_2012-1.pdf
Public
public domain/realm
Public artworks are found in publicly owned spaces as well as
public areas of private development, including built and open
spaces such as buildings, streets, squares, parks, foreshore
reserves and gardens.
definition by Bayside City Council in their policy draft.
http://www.bayside.vic.gov.au/documents/Public_Art_Policy_final_v3.pdf
Art
Mary Anne Staniszewski claims that art is only 200 years old. Previous to this what has been claimed as art history has actually only been claimed as art in the last two hundred years. The venus of willendorf did not claim tobe art, our historians claimed her as art. As Duchamp said ( quoted my Staniszewski) ' It is we who have given the name 'art' to religious things; the word itself doesn't exist amongst primitives.'
Staniszewski argues that before the eighteenth century, what we now call art was embedded into everyday life. This is really interesting because it brings to mind the way that ordinary people have become separated from practising art. It has become the domain of crafts people and artists, a few. Staniszewski also mentions a phrase to show why the sistine chapel is not an artwork, suggesting that we believe about art - 'The vision and authority of execution comes from the individual, not from an external political or religious master.' (p43)
In other words she is saying that our idea of art is that it does not serve any authority, is not biased by a commissioner. This is one of the arguments which becomes problematic when discussing 'public art', particularly comissioned public art. It has an agenda, it is influenced by stakeholders and commissioners, it is akin to the pre eighteenth century function of art. It can't be independant.
in that sense. public art does exist because we name it so.
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